M. J. Thomas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello Open Mind,
>
> You wrote, '... but I think the most impactful
> observations were the 3D detail of the granite
> rings in the ascending and descending passages'.
>
> The 'rings' (more popularly known as 'Girdle
> Stones' and three in number*) in the Ascending
> Passage are limestone not granite, and there are
> no 'Girdle Stones' in the Descending Passage.
>
> Robin (MJT)
>
> *some folk see the uppermost block(s) in the
> Girdled Section of the Ascending Passage as a
> fourth Girdle Stone.


Actually according to this drawing there are nine "Girdle Stones".
I clarified the arrangement in red.

Three upper compound "Girdle Stones" each composed of two "U" blocks. (These are the ones usually depicted in simple illustrations)
One compound "Girdle Stone" composed of three "U" blocks with two inclusions.
Five monoblock annular "Girdle Stones"
The three dimensional inter-fitting arrangement is nothing short of astonishing once rendered three dimensionally.
It get's even better, (or worse depending on which way you look at it).













Edited 10 time(s). Last edit at 16-Jan-17 12:25 by Jon Ellison.